Improvement in hand corn-huskers and shellers



J.VM. GRAY.-

- Corn Husker. Na-110.565. i Patei ted-Dec. 27,1870.

N. Firms. Phomumu mhen Wishinglou. I). C.

JAMES MADISON GRAY, or LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

Letters'Patent No. 110,565, dated December 27, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT" IN HAND CORN-HUSKERS ANDTSHELLERS.

The Schedule referred to in. these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it mag concern Kentucky, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Corn-Huskers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip-' tion of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 3 of the drawing is' an end view of my invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section.

Figure 1 is a bottom view.

Figures 4 and 5 are details.'

My invention has relation to means forhusking and shelling corn; and

It consists in the construction and novel arrangement of two curved metal plates, hinged together, and provided with suitable teeth on their concave surfaces, and holding straps, as hereinafter described. They may be used singly or in pairs.

The letters A A of the drawing designate the curved plates which compose'the sheller and husker. From the ends of each plate project the ears b b, by means of which the plates are pivotedtogether.

The exterior form of the plates is such as to adapt them to the. hand of the operator. They are therefore, in their general curvature, cylindrical; but in the direction of its length the exterior wall is undulating,

being concave as it recedes from each end and convex in thecenter, to adapt it to the hollow of the palm. This longitudinal curvature is slight in degree; The inner wall of each plate is transversely concave, and

slightly convex in the direction of its length. The I teeth on the inside of these plates are, intheir gem eral form, pyramidal, having usually four sides, except around the edges of the plates, where they are threesided. Of the four-sided teeth, some are, in their cross-section, rectangular, lettered cin the drawing,

' while others are diamond-shaped or flattened laterally,

lettered c. i

The husking-teeth 0", arranged along that edgeof each plate which is opposite the hinged edge, are long, and yet wide at the base. They are so arranged that each tooth is oppositea space between two teeth in the other plate, so that they engage with each other as the plates are brought together in seizing. the husk. At the same time the outer faces of those teeth slant inward in such a manner that when the teeth come together their points will be somewhat in rear of the bases of the opposite teeth. Thus they are enabledto seize the husk securely and firmly.

The shelling-teeth areof different-sizes, and arranged in rows running lengthwise on each plate Some'of these teeth are rectangular, as above described. The flattened or diamond-shaped teeth are sometimes placed so that their acute angles will be directed transversely, and these teeth are adapted to of these diamond-shaped teethare placed with their broad faces transversely directed in such a manner that they will scrape 0d the loosened grains.

D is the hand-strap, designed to be fastened over the back of the hand.-

E is the finger-strap. arranged to'sui-t the second finger. These straps are fastened to the plates by in each-plate near the center-thereof.

. To use the device, run the second finger through the loop E and fasten the strap D over the back of the hand.

In husking, the front or edge teeth catch the cornhusks lengthwise. The husks may be pulled down as far as necessary without breaking them from the'cob,

ear, and a single twisting movement will accomplish the result. a 7

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure, by- Letters Patent, isr v The hand corn-husker and-sheller herein described, consisting of the hinged undulating. plates A A, inclined interlocking edge-teeth c", shelling-teeth c c, loop E, and strap D, when constructed and arranged for operation as specifiedand shown.- In testimony that-I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

" JAMES MADISON GRAY.

Witnesses,

J: N: Oonnnzs,

W..S. OONDREY.

enter between the grains, loosening them up. Others running them through the slotsfz 2, which are made- Then, to shell off the grain, clasp the plates about the; 

